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gTRc S^r^nc °f Our ‘Jacfy of the cWootfs
“cFhe twenty~one years of pioneer missionary work had undermined the heafth of father (JJuteux and in the Jdff of 1857 he visited his native prance to recuperate, °In January of 1858 on his return trip to ^Bay St. ^Jouis his ship was imperifed by a great storm that Battered the crajt in mountainous seas Jor Jive days, cWhen the ship sprang a Teak, destruction and death seemed inevitabfe. father ^uteux prayed and invoked the aid of Our (JJfessed £Mpther, promising to buifd a shrine in her honor if aff were spared, cJTte ship was a battered wreck, destitute of saifs and mast, but it came sajefy into harbor, father (JJuteux sent immediatefy to prance for a statue of Our ^ady. Xlpcm its arrivaf, he gathred his parishioners, the brothers and Sisters, and formed a procession to the woods in the rear of the Consent property. cJTiere he bTessed the statue under the titfe Our °Jady of the ‘Woods. cFhe Sisters aided by fadies of the parish pfanted the avenue of cedars that fine the path to the shrine.
Tears fater a gentfeman invofved in serious troubfe made a sofemn promise to Our ^ady of the cWoods. ^Jshe woufd hefp him in his dijjerence, he woufd buifd a shrin in her honor. cJTieJavor was obtained and in gratitude, he buift the shrine that remains to this day.” celebrating 100 Years of
Incorporation, composition by Nel Ducomb, 1958.


Our Lady of the Gulf Church Document (072)
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